An Iowa City man who was arrested in April for allegedly leaving his 20-month-old son alone has pleaded not guilty and will face trial on July 24.

Jorge Perez, 20, 2018 Waterfront Drive No. 120, was charged April 27 with child endangerment/abuse.

According to online court documents, Perez has pleaded not guilty and will have his pretrial conference at 9 a.m. July 9 and his trial at 9 a.m. July 25.

At 12:06 p.m. April 30, police and ambulance officials responded to the Waterfront Drive residence after a 911 call reported a baby with difficulty breathing, The Daily Iowan has previously reported.

The child was identified as 20-month-old Marcus Balderas, who was pronounced dead after being taken to University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics for breathing problems.

The death is being treated as suspicious, and the Iowa City police, the state Division of Criminal Investigation, the state Department of Human Services, and the County Attorney’s Office are conducting a joint investigation into the death.

Perez is being held in the Johnson County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

— by Jordyn Reiland